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Rawls Leaves Rich Musical, Philanthropic Legacy Singer, songwriter and philanthropist Lou Rawls died Friday after a battle with cancer. Rawls' career spanned gospel, blues, jazz, pop and disco. For the last quarter century of his life, Rawls also devoted himself to educating black youth.
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Rawls Leaves Rich Musical, Philanthropic Legacy

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Rawls Leaves Rich Musical, Philanthropic Legacy

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Rawls Leaves Rich Musical, Philanthropic Legacy

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Rawls Leaves Rich Musical, Philanthropic Legacy

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Singer Lou Rawls is pictured performing in Los Angeles in this file photo from 2001. Reuters hide caption

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Reuters

Singer, songwriter and philanthropist Lou Rawls died early Friday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Rawls was being treated for lung and brain cancer. According to his family, he was 72.

Rawls was born in Chicago, and his career spanned gospel, blues, jazz, pop and disco. For the last quarter century of his life, Rawls -- in addition to performing and recording -- devoted himself to educating black youth and raising money for the United Negro College Fund.